Columbia Mailman School Lends a Hand in the Community

For decades, Columbia Mailman School has partnered with community groups in New York City to pursue joint research projects and learning opportunities to advance public health goals. This past Friday, Columbia Mailman faculty, students, and staff spent the day with community groups doing something more straightforward, but also important: volunteering their labor.

Day of Service, which took place on November 15, put 116 volunteers to work at 11 community sites across Manhattan and the Bronx. Day of Service is organized by Stephanie Grilo, co-founder and director of the MOSAIC faculty-to-student mentorship program and associate professor of population and family health. Co-sponsored by Linda Lupiani and the Office Faculty and HR, the event takes place twice a year; the next one will happen this coming spring.

Volunteer assignments involved activities like organizing and delivering food for New Yorkers in need, and chatting with older adults and answering their tech questions. Just as volunteers gave their time and energy, they also got something back from the experience. 

MPH student Emily Runnoe, MS, was part of a volunteer crew delivering meals to seniors on the Upper East Side on behalf of City Meals on Wheels. The organization was both ready to receive their assistance—and appreciative of their help. “The crisp weather, warm sunshine, and welcoming community created an inspiring atmosphere,” says Runnoe. “It was a meaningful way to connect with and learn about the community around us.”

On the other side of Central Park, at West Side Campaign Against Hunger, Columbia Mailman volunteers packed 150 bags of fruits and vegetables—enough to serve 450 people. One of the volunteers was Thoại D. Ngô, professor and chair of Population and Family Health, who called the experience “a privilege,” and said he relished the chance to interact with members of the Washington Heights community.  “Service lies at the heart of public health,” Ngô says. “It was also a wonderful opportunity to bond with faculty, staff, and students outside the academic setting.”

In the Bronx, staff member Meredith K. Ryer, assistant director of student support, organized produce and restocked a food pantry for Part of the Solution (POTS), a nonprofit that provides meals, showers, and social services to those in need. “The experience left me feeling hopeful about the difference POTS is making, and reaffirmed the importance of supporting organizations working to create lasting change in their communities,” she says. “I am already looking forward to the Day of Service next year.”